Marion County chaplain charged with molesting girl for over 5 years

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A Summit man, 45-year-old Scotty Joe Scaggs, who had been serving as a volunteer chaplain in the Marion County Jail, has been charged with three felonies regarding accusations he molested a female, when she was seven years old, for a period of approximately five and one-half years. Scaggs faces charges of sexual indecency with a child, rape and sexual assault.

Marion County Sheriff’s Captain and Chief Deputy William Batterton says Scaggs was immediately suspended as chaplain. Scaggs is being held in the Marion County Jail on a $15,000 bond. 

According to the arrest affidavit in the case, on May 15th a deputy with the Marion County Sheriff’s Department was contacted by an investigator with the Crimes Against Children Division of the Arkansas State Police. The investigator said a report was taken regarding a juvenile female, along with several other children, who spent the night with Scaggs after a family get together. The victim said Scaggs made her take off her clothes and dance on a dresser. The victim also alleges Scaggs made her kiss his daughters and sleep in his bed, where he touched her inappropriately and made inappropriate comments.

Captain Batterton says the investigation is ongoing, with more potential victims being interviewed.

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